Balance training device

ABSTRACT

A balance training device includes a platform having a recess defined in an upper side of the platform and a through hole centrally defined in the recess. A level is received in the recess and has a hole defined to communicate with the through hole in the recess. Multiple beads are received in the level and a tube is perpendicularly mounted on a lower side of the platform. At least three resilient compressible legs with compressible assemblies are mounted on the lower side to support the platform so that the platform can be made to tilt or be level during use. The user must control the platform with his legs and roll the beads will the tube through the bore in the level and the through hole in the platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a training device, and more particularly to a balance training device that can be used by all people regardless of age or sex.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A conventional balance training device such as a balance beam or a bicycle is often used to improve one's sense of balance. However, a balance beam cannot be widely used at home, and a bicycle can be dangerous when the user is incapable of maintaining his or her balance.

[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional balance training device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved balance training device. To achieve the objective, the balance training device in accordance with the present invention includes a platform having a recess defined in an upper side of the platform and a through hole centrally defined in the recess. A level is received in the recess and has a bore defined to communicate with the through hole in the recess. Multiple beads are received in the level and a tube is perpendicularly mounted on a lower side of the platform. At least three resilient compressible legs with compressible assemblies are mounted on the lower side to support the platform so that the platform can be tilted or made to be horizontal during use. The user must control the platform with his legs and roll the bead into the tube through the bore in the level and the through hole in the platform.

[0007] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a balance training device in accordance with the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the balance training device in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the balance training device in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a top cross sectional view of the balance training device along the line A-A in FIG. 3; and

[0012]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side plan view of the balance training device along the line B-B in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a balance training device in accordance with the present invention comprises a platform (10), a level (20) and at least three resilient compressible legs (30). The platform (10) has an upper and a lower side and includes a recess (11) defined in the center of the upper side and a through hole (12) is centrally defined in a bottom of the recess (11) and extending through the platform (10). The level (20) is mounted on the upper side of the platform (10) in the recess (11). The legs (30) are attached to the lower side of the platform (10) to support the platform (11) on a supporting surface, such as a floor. Each of the legs (30) is an equal distance from the center of the platform (10) and to one another.

[0014] The level (20) is round and includes a cylinder (21) securely mounted in the recess (11) in the platform (10). The cylinder (21) has a peripheral wall (211) to keep multiple beads (25) beads on the cylinder (21) in the level (20). A transparent cover (26) is mounted on the level (20) to close the cylinder (21) and the wall (211) and prevent the beads (25) from escaping from the level (20). A tube (23) extends down from the cylinder (21) through the through hole (12) of the platform (10). The tube (23) has an open end (22) that communicates with an inner periphery of the cylinder (241). The open end (22) has a diameter greater than that of the beads (25). A longitudinal slot (231) is defined in an outer periphery of the tube (23) and communicates with the open end (22) of the tube (23). A plug (24) is slidably mounted in the open end (22) of the tube (23). A knob (241) is radially attached to the plug (24) and extends through the slot (231) to push beads (25) in the tube (23) back into the container formed by the cylinder (21) and the wall (211).

[0015] Each resilient compressible leg (30) includes a connecting plate (31), a resilient element (33) and a compressible assembly (34). The connecting plate (31) is attached to the lower side of the platform (10). The connecting plate (31) has at least two bores (312) defined to allow a bolt (313) to extend through each bore (312) and screw into a threaded hole in the platform (10) to attach the connecting plate (31) to the lower side of the platform (10). A threaded stub (311) extends perpendicular from the connecting plate (31) away from the platform (10). A connecting rod (32) is co-axially mounted around the threaded stub (311). The connecting rod (32) includes a first threaded hole (321) and a second threaded hole (322) axially defined in opposite ends of the connecting rod (32). The first threaded hole (321) of the connecting rod (32) is screwed onto the threaded stub (311) of the connecting plate (31). A washer (324) is mounted around the connecting rod (32) at the end of the connecting rod (32) near the connecting plate (31). The connecting rod (32) and the washer (324) are threaded so that the washer can be longitudinally moved on the connecting rod (32). The washer (324) may be a nut and the like. A resilient element (33) is mounted around the connecting rod (32) and has a first end abutting the washer (324). In the preferred embodiment, the resilient element (33) is a spring.

[0016] The compressible assembly (34), such as a compressible cylinder, is screwed into the second threaded hole (322) of the connecting rod (32). The compressible assembly (34) includes a main shaft (341), a secondary shaft (342). The main shaft (341) has a threaded first and second end. The first end of the main shaft (341) is screwed into the second threaded hole (322) in the connecting rod (32). The secondary shaft (342) is movably inserted into the second end of the main shaft (341). A support plate (343) with two sides is securely attached to a free end of the secondary shaft (342) to support the second end of the resilient element (33). The resilient element (33) is compressibly mounted between the washer (324) and the support plate (343), and the resilient force of the resilient element (33) can be adjusted by moving the washer (324) on the outer periphery of connecting rod (32). A protrusion extends longitudinally from the side of the support plate (343) opposite to the resilient element (33) along a radial through the center of the level (20). The protrusion has a hole defined perpendicular to the radial through the center of the level (20). A base (35) pivotally connected to the protrusion of the support plate (343) and a suction cup (36) is attached to the base (35). The suction cup (36) has a through hole (361) centrally defined in the suction cup (36). The base (35) includes two ears (351) perpendicularly extending from the base (35) and forming a channel (352) between the two ears (351). The two ears (351) extend through the through hole (361) in the suction cup (36) to be pivotally attached to the protrusion of the support plate (343). A hole is defined in each ear (351) to align with each other. The protrusion is received in the channel (352) in the base (35), and a pin extends through the holes in the ears and the protrusion to pivotally attach the base (35) to the compressible assembly (34). The preferred embodiment of the balance training device has three legs (30) to reduce the cost of manufacturing.

[0017] To use the balance training device, the suction cups (36) are attached to a smooth supporting surface such as a floor. The user stands on the platform (10), and the compressible assemblies (34) are pressed on the distribution of the user's weight so that the platform (10) tilts until the user evenly distributes his weight on the platform (10). The user must use his legs to cause the platform (10) to be horizontal. The beads (25) will roll and fall into the tube (23) through the open end (22) in the cylinder (21) of the level (20) when the platform (10) is horizontal. Moving the plug (24) upwardly can push the beads (25) into the level (20) after using the balance training device in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] As described above, the balance training device in accordance with the present invention includes several advantages as follows.

[0019] 1. The structure of the balance training device is very simple so that the price and the cost of manufacturing are reduced.

[0020] 2. The balance training device can be used by all people regardless of age or sex so that the balance training device will not only be a popular training device but also an exercise device.

[0021] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A balance training device comprising: a platform including: a recess centrally defined in the platform; and a through hole centrally defined in a bottom of the recess and extending through the platform; a level mounted in the platform and including: a cylinder with a peripheral wall securely mounted in the recess in the platform and having a container defined for receiving multiple beads in the level; a transparent cover attached to the level to close the container to prevent the beads from escaping from the level; a tube extending down from a bottom of the cylinder through the through hole in the platform; an open end defined in the tube and communicating with the container, the open end having a diameter greater than that of the beads so that the bead will fall into the open end in the tube when the platform is in a horizontal position; at least three resilient compressible legs respectively attached to a lower side of the platform to stand the platform on a supporting surface, distances from a center of the platform to each of the legs being equal to one another, the legs being compressible so that the platform tilts.
 2. The balance training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the level further comprises: a slot longitudinally defined in an outer periphery of the tube and communicating with the open end of the tube; a plug slidably received in the open end of the tubular; and a knob attached to the plug after extending through the slot to make the plug push the beads back into the level.
 3. The balance training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg comprises: a connecting plate attached to a lower side of the platform; a threaded stub perpendicularly extending from the connecting plate opposite to the platform; a connecting rod co-axially mounted on the threaded stub, the connecting rod having a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole respectively axially defined in two opposite ends of the connecting rod, the first threaded hole screwed onto the threaded stub; a compressible assembly having a first threaded end screwed into the second threaded hole of the connecting rod and a second end having a suction cup attached to the compressible assembly; and a base attached to and extending through the suction cup to be pivotally attached to the compressible assembly.
 4. The balance training device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the leg comprises: a connecting plate attached to a lower side of the platform; a threaded stub perpendicularly extending from the connecting plate opposite to the platform; a connecting rod co-axially mounted on the threaded stub, the connecting rod having a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole respectively axially defined in two opposite ends of the connecting rod, the first threaded hole screwed onto the threaded stub; a compressible assembly having a first threaded end screwed into the second threaded hole of the connecting rod and a second end having a suction cup attached to the compressible assembly; and a base attached to and extending through the suction cup to be pivotally mounted to the compressible assembly.
 5. The balance training device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the compressible assembly is a compressible cylinder and comprises: a main shaft has a threaded end screwed into the second threaded hole in the connecting rod and a second end having a secondary shaft movably inserted into the main shaft; a support plate radially extends from a free end of the secondary shaft, the support plate having one side opposite to the secondary shaft with a protrusion extending out from the support plate, the protrusion having a longitudinal axis directing to the center of the platform; a hole is perpendicularly defined in the protrusion for connecting to the base; the suction cup has a through hole centrally defined in the suction cup; and the base comprises one side facing the support plate and having two ears extending up from the base, a channel formed between the two ears to receive the protrusion of the support plate, a pin extending through the two ears and the through hole in the protrusion to pivotally attach the base to the compressible cylinder.
 6. The balance training device as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the connecting rod has a threaded outer periphery and a washer screwed onto the connecting rod so that the washer can be moved longitudinally on the outer periphery of the connecting rod; and the compressible cylinder further comprises a resilient element mounted around the main shaft and the connecting rod, the resilient element having two opposite ends respectively abutting the washer and the support plate so that the resilient force of the resilient element can be adjusted by moving the washer on the outer periphery of the connecting rod.
 7. The balance training device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resilient element is a spring.
 8. The balance training device as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the compressible assembly is a compressible cylinder and comprises: a main shaft having a threaded end screwed into the second end of the threaded hole in the connecting rod and a second end having an secondary shaft movably inserted into the main shaft; a support plate with two sides securely attached to a free end of the secondary shaft, one side of the support plate opposite to the main shaft having a protrusion extending out from the support plate along a radial to the center of the platform; a hole perpendicularly defined in the protrusion for connecting to the base; the suction cup has a through hole centrally defined in the suction cup; and the base comprises two ears extending from the base and forming a channel between the two ears for receiving the protrusion of the support plate, a pin extending through the two ears and the through hole in the protrusion to pivotally attach the compressible cylinder to the base.
 9. The balance training device as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the connecting rod has a threaded outer periphery and a washer screwed onto the connecting rod so that the washer can be moved longitudinally on the outer periphery of the connecting rod; and the compressible cylinder further comprises a resilient element mounted around the main shaft and the connecting rod, the resilient element having two opposite ends respectively abutting the washer and the support plate so that the resilient force of the resilient element can be adjusted by moving the washer on the outer periphery of the connecting rod.
 10. The balance training device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the resilient element is a spring. 